Probe continues of off-duty Wilson police

Allegations several beat four men at bar.

A criminal investigation continues into allegations several off-duty Wilson police officers beat four people last year at a borough bar, Northampton County's top prosecutor said.

The four have filed an intent-to-sue notice in civil court against Wilson, police Chief Steven Parkansky and the officers, alleging an assault on Dec. 6, 2009, at Shruty's Pub on Northampton Street.

This summer, District Attorney John Morganelli said he had assigned a county detective to investigate whether the officers should be charged criminally, in the wake of the civil suit. He said this week the probe remains pending, though it was delayed by a series of unrelated cases assigned to the same detective.

"We're still not sure where it's going," Morganelli said. "We're aware of it, and it will definitely be a public announcement, one way or the other."

The civil notice names the officers involved as "John Does." In October, the borough in court records identified Christian Meehan, Scott Trethaway and Marc Crisafulli as the policemen who were at the bar.

Jeremy Alves, Scott Kocher and Lori Kocher, all of Wilson, and Chad Ulmer of Bethlehem claim they were hurt by off-duty officers in an "unprovoked attack, which involved the use of potentially deadly force including choking," according to their attorney, Jennifer Sletvold. Her filings do not give further details of the allegations.

President Judge F.P. Kimberly McFadden in August granted Sletvold early discovery to help prepare her complaint. The order came after Sletvold said she needed the names of the officers, and borough police reports and documents on the incident, including those of an internal investigation.

In October, Sletvold filed to force the borough to turn over several documents it had refused to provide, including still printouts from video surveillance that no longer exists, a timeline Parkansky made from a recording, and information on police policy and chain of command.

That month Judge Stephen Baratta ordered Wilson to do so.

It is unclear whether any officers faced disciplinary sanctions in the incident.

Chad Klasna, the attorney for the borough, did not respond to a phone call and e-mail seeking comment.

Parkansky and Sletvold also did not return calls.

Court records do not say whether Meehan, Trethaway or Crisafulli individually have lawyers. A message left at a listing for Meehan was not returned. Home numbers for the others could not be found.